North County Times -- MURRIETA ---- An Army private died Monday from injuries sustained during a firefight earlier in the day in the eastern Paktya province in Afghanistan.



The 20-year-old soldier was identified Wednesday as Pfc. Nicolas Hugh Joseph Gideon, a Calvary scout with the 1st Squadron (Airborne), 40th Cavalry regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division.



Gideon joined the Army in June 2008. He was stationed at Fort Richardson in Alaska in November after completing basic training at Fort Knox, Ky.



Gideon's unit was attacked Monday, according to an Army news release, by insurgents using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. Eight soldiers in the unit were injured in the attack.


Gideon's body arrived Wednesday at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Army officials said a memorial ceremony for Gideon will be held at Fort Richardson.



According to published reports, insurgent attacks across Afghanistan killed seven American soldiers ---- including Gideon ---- and at least two Afghan civilians Monday, as thousands of U.S. Marines continue their offensive against the Taliban in the southern Helmand province.



A U.S. military spokesman, Chief Petty Officer Brian Naranjo, said four U.S. soldiers died when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb outside the northern city of Kunduz.



The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.



The U.S. military spokesman said an explosion in the south killed two more U.S. troops.



In southern Kandahar province, local officials said a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden car near the entrance of the regional NATO military base, killing two Afghan civilians and wounding 14 others.